MaxUhu

In order to make it work on windows (any version) you need to set it up as well on the actual DLink router as file sharing (Samba) and usually setup a username and password within the router admin... Once this is done you can access it via windows explorer quite easily...

Correct and incorrect at the same time, SMB can be enabled quite easily in windows 10 and 11 and with for example kodi installed on an android box or computer etc, it's very easy to connect to these external hard drives on the router, as I assume this is the reason to connect to the harddrive via the router, but even for simple file sharing still easy from within windows explorer, just map a network drive or browse the network... Not that difficult and even for novices quite easily done... Yes, a nas is for sure the easier way, however also the three times more expensive way and most of the time, if somebody owns the external hard drives for USB, these can not be used inside the NAS. Just pointing out easy and cost effective ways... ????

Well, @ozimoron comment is partially correct, with a NAS you can connect to any router, however there are also ways to connect a USB external hard drive to the router, however that requires a router with a USB port (which not all have) and SMB sharing software on the router as well. ASUS, DLink and linksys sell routers like this in Thailand which run usually between 1500 and 1800 baht for routers with 1 USB port and between 2600 and 4000 baht for routers with 2 USB ports, all depending on the wireless protocol and speed they support. Send me a PM if you want some pointers to some of the right routers. But as said depends on the HDD you want to connect and what you want to do with it, what kind of router you need.